Review: Halflings by Heather Burch

Halflings
(Halflings #1)

Author: Heather Burch

Publication Date: January 17th, 2012

Publisher: Zondervan Publishing

Genre: Paranormal

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Synopsis:

After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

My Thoughts: I really wanted to love this story, but it just seemed to fall short for me. I'm not really sure what it was. I think it had a lot to do with the amount of detail the author puts into, what seemed to me, insignificant events. I think once was enough to describe Nikki to us and explain how beautiful she is. The second time was ok too, there were two different love interests, I guess it can be explained how each saw her the first  time. That being said, I did enjoy the storyline, when the story was moving on. Sometimes we just don't need to know every little detail, which is what it felt like to me. That and it felt like something was missing to me.

Maybe my frustration comes from Nikki, I just didn't like her much as a person. She seemed somewhat whiny. We keep hearing how pretty she is but she's there repeatedly saying how ugly she is, it's almost like one of those pretty girls who says they are ugly just to hear people tell her that no,  she isn't ugly, she's beautiful. Then there is how she just wants to keep running away from everything, but we're told, no she's a fighter. Well Nikki, if you're a fighter, please stop whining every time someone brings up new information, you're involved, there's no going back now. Then there is how she seems to string both boys along. I get it, it's a love triangle, but some of the things she does just made me think, "who does that?" Once you get past those few traits, you're left with a slightly tom boy, black belt, artist. She is an alright, kick ass character then.

Ok, so for the thing that bothered me the most, and I'm sorry this might be a slight spoiler somehow. About 70% through the book you find out that Nikki has a dog, Bo. Now we've heard absolutely nothing about Bo for the majority of the story, but Nikki absolutely LOVES this dog, who doesn't love their dog? Not a single word about poor Bo the entire novel up to this point, I would have expected something. I guess it just seemed to me that Bo was thrown in there as a last minute decision. I think Bo is my favorite character, after Raven. I love dogs!

So other than a couple of things, I enjoyed the story. It holds promise for the next novel, so I will  be adding that to my TBR. Halflings did seem a tiny bit anti climatic towards the end, the last chapter was pretty good. I me there just wasn't enough action I guess? It's fairly common with firsts in a series for me though, there is just so much to explain and set up for the series. I can understand that, which is while I'll hold my judgement for the second book in the series. The book did have me fairly teary eyed in a couple of places, so I was getting into it in some places. 

Overall, I liked it. I will recommend it to those who enjoy paranormal books, especially those with angels.

Thank you to Zondervan and NetGalley for letting me review this book.